Eggs are one of the most amazing food items that everyone can enjoy. Its versatility knows no bounds which is why there are countless recipes that use it as an ingredient.
However, there is one way of using eggs that may fascinate many up to this day. This is called salted duck egg.
This egg is off-white in color and smells a bit like salt. This is originally an Asian way of preserving duck eggs.
Salted duck eggs can be found in many Asian markets and are often used in their dishes or can be combined with other food items.
Salted Duck Egg
Contrary to what many believed, salted duck eggs were originally created as an ingredient for Chinese traditional medicine. According to ancient Chinese literature, salted duck eggs are deemed effective in eliminating excessive heat inside the body. It is also found helpful in curing diarrhea.
Salted eggs are often a part of Asian dishes. They are usually steamed or boiled and added as a condiment to congee or other types of soups. Other times, they are incorporated into other dishes to enhance flavoring.
At the same time, salted duck eggs became a staple in other Asian countries, especially Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines because they are cheap and easy to prepare. To be specific, this is a common food item amongst the food table of villagers and farmers.
How To Make Salted Eggs?
Although you can purchase salted duck eggs in grocery stores, it is also a worthwhile experience to make them on your own.
Ingredients:
• 12 medium-sized eggs
• 500 grams of salt
• 4 cups of water
• Large container with a cover
Process:
Using a large pot, pour in the mixture of water and salt. Bring this to a boil over medium-high heat.
Stir the mixture until all the salt melts. Keep the mixture boiling until you notice salt crystals beginning to form around the walls of the pot. This happens when salt reaches its saturation point.
Remove the pot from the stove and allow your saltwater mixture to cool down.
Using your large glass container, carefully put your eggs inside.
Carefully pour the saltwater mixture with the salt crystals into the container until all the eggs are submerged.
Cover the glass container and store it in a cold and dark area of your kitchen.
Wait Time
A perfectly salted egg requires about 4 weeks to be kept submerged in the brine. This allows the flavor to seep into the eggs thoroughly. However, for some people who would want less salty eggs, you may opt to take them out of the storage around week 3.
Once you have taken the eggs out of the container, boil them for 10 minutes until they are perfectly hard-boiled. Allow them to cool down before removing the shell and serving.
Salted Egg Pairings
One of the wonders of salted eggs is that you can combine them with other food items and other dishes. Here are some tips on which food choices it can go with perfectly.
1. Meat – Salted eggs can definitely go well with all types of meat, however, its savory taste compliments chicken meat best. This is because chicken Deep frying a plain chicken and then mixing it with salted egg yolk will take an ordinary dish to a whole new level.
2. Seafood – When it comes to seafood, your best candidate in pairing with salted eggs is prawns. Salted egg yolk buttered prawns make your seafood experience worthwhile. Meanwhile, chili crabs with salted eggs are also a fantastic option. For this dish, you can use light and crispy soft-shell crabs.
3. Pasta – It may be a bit odd for some, but adding salted eggs to give your traditional pasta a facelift is something you should not miss.
The yolk of the salted egg has the perfect consistency of a simple sauce that a pasta dish needs. In addition, it also gives a rich flavor and excellent appearance when it comes to plating.
4. Bread – This may be the very first food item that is often combined with salted egg. There have been many versions of bread with salted egg but one of the popular ones are those found in Hong Kong.
This is called Liu Sha Bao which is a paste-made bread that has condensed milk, butter, and tasty salted egg yolk. This dish is often found in Cantonese Dim Sum restaurants.
5. Salad – The salted egg has also made its way as an unexpected garnish in salads. It is a perfect substitute for grated cheese but offers more at the same time. Salted egg offers a punchy and sharp flavor, plus a creamy consistency.